Acupuncture for weight loss
Acupuncture for weight loss is one of the most demanded treatment approaches for overweight and obesity. Do you have any suggestions for architecture for weight loss? Let us first get an idea of acupuncture.
Treatment for Obesity and Overweight
Losing that extra fat can be very difficult for the affected individual, as there are many processes to go through. The amount of consistency required to keep up can even be mentally draining for individuals planning to get rid of fat, obesity, or excessive weight. Natural treatment can spin a whole lot of surprises, so make sure you do not have to go through a great deal of stress to get medical treatment for obesity.
Natural treatments for weight loss are overlooked due to human laziness and unwillingness to endure the stress of exercising daily. However, it is best to reduce weight through natural processes, as this will give an individual the benefit of good health. Most of the processes needed for losing weight not only help the body lose weight but also help the body stay fit, delicate, and profoundly healthy.
In fact, consuming some types of food will help the body shed weight and, in turn, help the body’s immune system function properly, and this will keep the body away from unwanted illnesses.
Exercising the body is also an excellent tool for shedding weight and getting rid of obesity. This should be the best option for anyone because the individual gains fitness, loses weight, and doesn’t get tired quickly from the usual things that would easily get the person exhausted.
Some types of medications used to fight weight gain and obesity also come with a variety of side effects that could have an adverse impact later in the future. This is one good reason to take natural treatment very seriously.
Diets: Consumption of certain foods helps eliminate obesity and increases one’s health.
- Clean, lean protein: consuming this type of food helps the body feel pure satisfaction and makes the individual eat less. Taking up to 3–4 ounces of protein is standard per meal.
- Omega-3 Fats: Consuming more fish rich in omega-3 fats will help reduce inflammation brought about by obesity or excessive weight gain.
- Coconut oil and coconut milk are also beneficial, as they contain MCFAs that the human body uses to replace fats. Compared to other fats, MCFAs are hardly stored as fats in the body.
- High-fiber foods—vegetables, seeds, nuts, and berries—help increase satisfaction with no risk of calorie increment.
Defining acupuncture:
Acupuncture is the traditional medical practice of Chinese medicine that stimulates a particular point in the body while inserting thin needles inside the skin. The injected needles encourage the release of the body’s natural “feel-good” hormone, endorphins. It can initiate a relaxing and calming effect that prevents the need for additional eating due to anxiety, frustration, and increased stress.
Acupuncture has experienced a consistent increase in its fame over the last 40 years. According to the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), almost 10 million people in the United States alone underwent acupuncture in 2014. With increased scientific studies revealing the effectiveness of acupuncture in pain relief, health practitioners and researchers have been involved in the search to understand the full potential of acupuncture.
Multiple studies involve the use of acupuncture due to its ability to manage pain, particularly for neck and headache, osteoarthritis, and knee and back pain.
Not much research has been done on how acupuncture assists other health issues, such as weight loss.
Weight Loss with Traditional Chinese Medicine:
There is a belief system in Traditional Chinese Medicine that being overweight is due to an irregularity in the body because of a malfunction of the liver organ system and spleen. Professional acupuncturists will only suggest some areas for effective weight loss. Among these are the kidneys and endocrine system, which can treat water retention and help stimulate hormonal and nerve rebalance. The thyroid gland and spleen are affecting hormonal and sugar rebalancing. Hence, the ovary and the adrenal glands are involved in gaining weight due to PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or menopause. Some of the individuals note the effects of acupuncture quickly and need treatment every other week.
Acupuncture for weight loss
The acupuncture treatment’s effect on the client’s emotions plays a significant role in assisting weight loss. Acupuncture blocks dangerous neurochemicals and affects the neuroendocrine system to restore the natural balance of neurotransmitter and hormone levels. It results in the release of endorphins that help reduce anxiety and stress, which in turn aids in preventing the desire to overeat.
Some individuals who support acupuncture for weight loss consider that acupuncture helps stimulate the flow of energy to the body to impact factors that can reduce the level of obesity. Some of the elements include:
- Producing an effect on some parts of the brain that feel hungry
- Reducing stress
- Decreasing appetite
- Increasing metabolism
According to traditional Chinese medicine, when an imbalance occurs in the body and results in weight gain, irregularities can arise due to the malfunctioning of:
- Endocrine system
- Thyroid gland
- Kidney
- Spleen
- Liver
Hence, the acupuncture treatments for weight loss target the areas of the body mentioned above.
Can acupuncture help with weight loss?
Multiple studies have revealed that patients shed more calories when there is a combination of acupuncture for weight loss and traditional methods for losing weight. In these cases, almost one to three acupuncture sessions for weight loss can be effective and safe in assisting people in achieving their weight loss.
It is an astonishing fact that a quarter of all American people are overweight. They spend almost 33 billion dollars each year in their struggle to lose excess calories. Nearly 95 percent of them fail to lose weight to maintain good health. For them, acupuncture can be a beneficial treatment for shedding pounds.
Ear acupuncture for weight loss:
The ear is the area that acupuncture professionals target for weight loss. It is known that manipulating different points on the ear can control food cravings to some extent. It is counted as a similar treatment to that utilized by the practitioners for assisting drug users, heroin addicts, and smokers in ending their addictions.
Some people may lose weight with the help of acupuncture when performed correctly by a qualified acupuncturist. A study published in Medical Acupuncture revealed that combining ear acupuncture with a 15-minute walk and a 2000-calorie-a-day diet assisted in weight reduction. The study included twenty obese women, ages 22 to 42. Half of them received a 15-minute ear acupuncture session weekly, and they lost an average of 10 pounds. The other half, who did not receive the ear acupuncture, lost only three pounds. Moreover, the females who get acupuncture treatment noticed a decreased diet.
How many sessions of acupuncture for weight loss will you need?
Multiple experts in acupuncture suggest different lengths and levels of the treatment plan. If you plan to lose almost 10 to 15 pounds, have numerous weekly treatments. It is a regular treatment time of about six to eight weeks.
As the treatment progresses, the number of visits may reduce, and this number of visits will also differ from one expert to another.
Positive attitude:
A positive attitude is necessary when you get any treatment. If you think the acupuncture treatment is helpful, it will also assist in losing weight.
For instance, the satisfaction of making a wise choice regarding your diet and exercise can motivate you if you believe this treatment can improve the quality of your life. These choices can result in further weight reduction.
Why is there so little research on acupuncture for weight loss?
If there is an opportunity that acupuncture can assist people in losing weight, then why are there not many studies present that prove it to be beneficial or not?
A few studies suggest that acupuncture is probably beneficial for losing weight. However, reviews of some studies reveal that the results were not compelling due to issues with how the studies were worked out.
The results of the minor studies can be aggregated to improve statistical relevance. The studies that feature acupuncture consist of a diversity of variables that need to be combined, involving several differences in:
- Sham intervention
- Use of placebo
- Length of sessions
- Number of acupuncture points
- Techniques
In addition, the participants’ expectations, personal beliefs, and relationships with the professionals all impact the study’s findings regarding acupuncture. These impacts can change the effect of the natural treatment and distort the whole data.
Acupuncture for weight loss is safe and causes no side effects
The safe side and side effects of acupuncture are dependent on the experience and training of the expert and the sterilization of the needles.
Always ensure your acupuncturist is licensed and highly trained in your state. Otherwise, you may suffer some severe side effects.
- Injury to the Central Nervous System
- Collapsed Lungs
- Punctured Organs
- Infections
Besides these, the potential side effects of acupuncture for weight loss involve muscle spasms, fatigue, and soreness. With changing bodily processes and hormone levels, you are expected to feel exhausted and sore. Most of the time, the stimulation of nerves caused by acupuncture will remain even after the needles are removed. Within a day or two, the muscle tremors should go away. Some of the side effects also involve emotional aspects.
Acupuncture may assist you in losing weight, but there is little research on it and some mixed evidence. It can aid you in losing weight, but it is not evident if the positive results come from a specific treatment of acupuncture or your right attitude assisting you in making good choices for your lifestyle.
Now, the evidence is not strong enough to prove that acupuncture can result in losing weight, but before you consider doing it:
- Choose a licensed and trained practitioner
- Combine the treatment with proper exercise and food decisions
- Discuss the pros and cons
It is important to note that a qualified acupuncturist must perform the procedure. For maximum benefits, the treatments should involve appropriate physical exercise and a reduced-calorie diet. As with all medical conditions, remember to take the advice of your physician before you decide to prefer architecture for weight loss.
At the Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic, a team of licensed acupuncturists under the strict supervision of Dr. Victor Tsan performs all forms of acupuncture for weight loss.
To book your appointment for a Weight Loss Initial Evaluation, contact our clinic or call us at (267) 403-3085.